The Great Leader himself called the Afghan war a 'necessity'. Now the necessary war is looking for many as totally unnecessary. Necessity begets invention as the platitude states; and apathy and political irresponsibility begets failure. The necessity of the Afghan conflict is glaringly obvious. What is missing is the political foresight and skill to win the war.

The Afghan war was started by Al Qaeda and the Taliban in a bid to seriously harm the world's superpower. When Iraq was justifiably invaded in 2003, the anti-war zealots and ideological puritans wailed that resources necessary to defeat the foot soldiers of fascist Islam in Afghanistan would be diverted to Iraq. Now Iraq is won. That is obvious. What is not so obvious is the political reluctance to wage and win war in Afghanistan – a war many called 'just', 'good' and 'involuntary'.

And so it is. But misconceptions abound. One is that you can't win a war in Afghanistan. This is a lie. The Russians were ousted of course, only after being opposed by covert US power and military supplies to rebels. Contrary to myth the British never tried to conquer the area – they sent in 'flying columns' from their Indian frontier bases to punish tribes, form alliances and kill meddlers. The British intention was simply to keep Afghanistan as a buffer between Russian ambitions and the Persian Gulf. Another myth is that modernity can never take root in such a misbegotten and scarred state. But the massive increase in recent building and investments, along with the desire of the populace makes such a belief untenable.

Waging war in Afghanistan is vital if one remembers that the long war between fascistic Islamic elements and the West has been in train for 1400 years. Islamic barbarity and Western ideals are completely incompatible. Islamic fascism has to be fought wherever it appears. Such is the sad, and sometimes enervating fact of geo-political life. The attacks on 9-11 were a part of this millennia-old battle. Afghanistan nurtured the attacks, and the fundamentalist movements which lived and operated there can never again be allowed a safe haven in any state – Afghanistan included.

Afghanistan also sits beside Iran. It is a vital corridor and conduit of Islamic supremacist racism. It is a major center of Islamic fascist agitation and exportation of hate and violence. Afghanistan needs to be subdued, and like Iraq, it needs to become a US ally. Islamic fundamentalism needs to be eradicated and Western systems in some guise imposed to introduce some form of normalcy, modernity and rationality. Plurality of spiritual worship and cultural reformation also needs to be developed both of which will help neuter the wilder forms of Islamic intolerance.

It is simply impossible to leave Afghanistan to the Taliban or Islamic fascists.

Many doubted that Iraq could be invaded and controlled and pacified. But it happened. Many doubted that Germany fascism or Japanese fascism could be fought and defeated. But it happened. Russian fascism was deemed superior and unassailable by many, but it too fell. US and Western armies have faced far more hostile and seemingly unattainable situations than what now exists in Afghanistan. What will win Afghanistan are two things: 1. Political clarity and courage on objectives and milestones. 2. Another 30.000 US troops [or 100.000 in total], under a unified and vigorous US military command with clear instructions on first winning the war and building a secure state.

The primary reason why the Bush surge worked in Iraq was leadership. Bush and Petraeus were both clear that victory was mandatory. Well defined objectives existed. Enough resources were made available to properly wage the war. Islamic fascists were killed en masse – probably 60.000 or more – and the show of force convinced most tribal leaders that the US would be the winning side and therefore making an accommodation with the superpower would be strategically prudent.

None of this exists in Afghanistan. The Great Prophet Obama who just a mere 8 months ago called this war a 'war of necessity' has no idea about the mission, objectives or why the US is there. There is no political will nor clear ideas about how to win. NATO has proven itself largely useless and the command structure split between NATO and the US forces leads to inefficiencies, a lack of focus and the ridiculous reality of European troops barracked in places far away from fighting but still demanding a say in strategy.

Apply the lessons of Iraq to Afghanistan and we will win. If we lose in Afghanistan it will be due to political incompetence and cowardice. Unify the command under US leadership; add 30.000 more troops; give whatever resources are necessary and define with clarity and intelligence the military and political objectives for the next year.

If such political leadership existed, Afghanistan would be pacified within 6 months.